A U.S. pornographic film actor has traveled to Afghanistan in a visit that has not been publicly acknowledged by the Taliban, The Associated Press reported.
Whitney Wright, who previously stirred controversy by visiting Iran last year amid the government’s crackdown on women, shared images from her trip to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan on her Instagram account. The photos included a plane from the national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines on a runway, a tiled ceiling from the western city of Herat, supermarket items, and vehicles. Wright herself did not appear in the images. She did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict morality laws and curtailed the rights of women and girls. Girls beyond the sixth grade are barred from attending school, and universities remain closed to female students.
Despite their hard-line rule, the Taliban have sought to attract foreign tourists, touting improved security and a different image of Afghanistan. Some international visitors have traveled to the country, encouraged by the decline in violence.
As a U.S. citizen born in Oklahoma City, Wright would have required a visa to enter Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan has no operational embassies or consulates in the United States. The Taliban control approximately 40 diplomatic missions worldwide.
The U.S. State Department strongly advises against travel to Afghanistan, citing risks including civil unrest, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and limited medical services. The department has also warned of the potential for wrongful detention of American citizens.
Wright has previously traveled to Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
